Farnsworth Homestead facts for kids
The Farnsworth Homestead is a special old house in Rockland, Maine. It was built in 1854 by a man named William A. Farnsworth. This house is a great example of a building style called Greek Revival, which was popular a long time ago. It was also the home of Lucy Farnsworth, who was very generous and helped create the Farnsworth Art Museum. Today, the museum owns the house and lets people visit it to see what life was like in the mid-1800s. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 because of its historical importance.
Quick facts for kids |
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Farnsworth Homestead
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HABS photo, 1960
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 21 Elm St., Rockland, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Built by | W.H. Glover Lumber Co. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000241 |
| Added to NRHP | May 25, 1973 |
Contents
What the Farnsworth Homestead Looks Like
The Farnsworth Homestead is right in the middle of downtown Rockland. It's located on Elm Street, just behind the main building of the Farnsworth Art Museum. The property includes the main house and a carriage house, which is like a garage for horses and carriages. These two buildings are connected by smaller sections called "ells."
Building Materials and Style
The main house is two-and-a-half stories tall. It's made of wood and has a pointy roof. The bottom part of the house is built with strong granite and brick. The front of the main house has smooth wooden boards, while the connecting parts and the carriage house have overlapping wooden boards called clapboards. The corners of the main house have decorative flat columns, and the roof edges are fancy, showing off the Greek Revival style. The front door is set back a bit and has its own decorative frame.
The History of the Farnsworth Family Home
The house was built in 1854 by William A. Farnsworth. He was an important businessman in the area, especially in the lime rock industry. He had a big family, but most of his property eventually went to his daughter, Lucy.
Lucy Farnsworth's Legacy
Lucy Farnsworth was a quiet person who lived a private life. She passed away in 1935. In her will, she made sure that her money and property would be used to create the Farnsworth Art Museum. She also wanted her family home, the Farnsworth Homestead, to be kept just as it was. This way, people could visit and see what a home looked like in the mid-1800s. Thanks to Lucy, we can still explore this historic house today.
See also
